Ten Thousand Eyes
Ten Thousand Eyes by Richard Collier, published by Canelo in 2024, offers a detailed account of the formation and operations of the Free French Intelligence Service during World War II. This edition spans 400 pages and is presented in English. The narrative begins shortly after France’s fall in June 1940, detailing how André Dewavrin was tasked with recruiting a diverse group of agents from various walks of life in Occupied France to gather crucial intelligence for the Allied invasion.
Readers will find a comprehensive exploration of the challenges faced by these agents as they worked to gather vital information on Hitler’s Atlantic Wall, including gun battery locations and troop movements. The book draws on a rich array of both published and unpublished materials, including interviews with key figures like Dewavrin and de Gaulle, to create an authentic record of this extraordinary chapter in history. The focus on the human stories behind the intelligence efforts highlights the bravery and determination of ordinary individuals who played a significant role in shaping the course of the war.
Official synopsis Publisher
‘Without the networks of the French Resistance, the invasion would not have been possible’ Major General Walter Bedell Smith, Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
Days after France fell in June 1940, Charles de Gaulle appointed André Dewavrin to create, from scratch, the Free French Intelligence Service.
Recruiting agents among the sailors, farmers, painters, housewives and children of Occupied France, he managed cells of spies across the country, and focused their attention on one goal: preparing for the Allied invasion of France, even at the risk of torture and death.
Hitler’s fortifications along the European coastline – known as the Atlantic Wall – were their target. Gun battery locations, troop movements, and more… All this information was funnelled back to the Allies by a network of brave individuals, creating a living map that became essential to the planning of D-Day, and the selection of Normandy as the invasion point.
Using a wealth of material both published and unpublished, including interviews with Dewavrin and de Gaulle himself, Collier has produced an authentic record of one of the most remarkable episodes of the Second World War; a human story of a group of ordinary people whose faith paved the way for Eisenhower’s great sweep across Europe. Perfect for readers of Antony Beevor and Max Hastings.
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